Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) will host the National Outdoor Recreation Workforce Consortium in partnership with The West Virginia University Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (WVU OEDC).
The Consortium unites private-sector outdoor recreation interests with leading two- and four-year institutions to provide career and technical education for the outdoor recreation workforce. ORR said the Consortium’s goal is to better prepare companies, higher education institutions and the workforce for tomorrow’s outdoor recreation career opportunities.
ORR President Jessica Wahl Turner said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University to bring to life some of the key outdoor workforce opportunities in skill development, communications and education identified in our years of research across the outdoor recreation economy.”
ORR created the Consortium after learning the outdoor recreation economy lacks clearly defined workforce development strategies that cross sectors and segments.
Danny Twilley, WVU associate vice president for economic and community development. said, “The consortium could not come at a better time, as both the industry and higher education recognize the need to collaborate on workforce development needs and opportunities, to ensure we are aligned in growing this powerful economic sector.”
The Consortium will address these topics by facilitating in-person convenings, collaboration, education, communications and research on in-demand workforce needs.
Institutions interested in joining the Consortium can email ORR at cperkins@recreationroundtable.org.
